Air washer



March 24, 1942.

c. L. SPRINKLE AIR WASHER Filed Aug. 19, 1940 INVENTOR. Char/:5 L, Jpr/n/t/c BY Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIR. WASHER Charles L. Sprinkle, Lansing, Mich.

Application August 19, 1940, Serial No. 353,299

1 Claim.

This invention relates to air washers. More particularly, it constitutes mechanism constructed and arranged to draw external air into the apparatus and to subject the air to a finely divided water spray whereby the dust or particles of any sort carried by the air are washedout of the air in the casing and the washed air is passed out of the casing into any form of air heater and distributed throughout the dwelling.

Impure or stagnant air in the home or other building during the heating season lessens the resistance and the vitality of the inmates, and subjects them to colds and other consequent ailments. It is believed that this invention will wash and humidify the air throughout the house and will add materially to the health and comfort of the occupants.

By means of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application the special construction and combination of devices which form the object of the invention are illustrated, the particular sizes, shapes and disposition of the various mechanical members being subject to modification and change of arrangement within the scope of the claim of the following specification.

Of the drawing Fig. 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a casing showing the elements of this invention positioned therein, the casing being connected with a house heater.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the casing and the air conduit in communication with the top opening of the casing.

Fig. 3 is a plan view somewhat enlarged of the part termed for the purposesof this description the water breaker.

Fig. 4 shows the shape of the outer end of one of the radial blades of the air breaker.

Fig. 5 shows the motor employed, and the construction of one of the arms as ordinarily made and arranged to support the motor upon the interior of the air conduit.

Throughout the drawing and description the same number is used to refer to the same part.

In Fig. l a house heater I has situated thereby a casing 2 of any chosen shape provided with an opening 3 in the top. The outline of the opening may be circular if desired. In communication with the opening is an air conduit 4 ordinarily cylindrical in form and extending downwardly in the casing. In the upper portion of the conduit and centrally located is a motor 5 supported by separated arms 6, 'l and 8 as set out in Fig. 5, and usually including a spring support 1'. The

shaft 9 of the motor extends downwardly and is connected with a water breaker or sprayer l0, and a conical centrifugal pump H. The special construction of the breaker l0 and pump II as shown is not intended to limit this invention. The pump extends downwardly into a body of water I2 in a water tank 13 situated below the conduit. It will be here noted that the area of the tank in either direction is greater than the diameter of the conduit, and that an internal remains all around the conduit between the conduit and the adjacent wall of the tank. The tank is provided with valve controlled discharge pipes and connections l4, and also with a float I5 and connections operated thereby for maintaining a predetermined water level in the tank. A water serving pipe I! leads into the casing to the float operated level controlling devices l6 as shown.

In the lower portion of the casing 2 is placed a rotary air fan mechanism l8 having an operating motor [9.

Considering Figs. 3 and 4. These figures are intended to set forth the construction ordinarily given the rotating water breaker II] which as explained is driven by the motor in the conduit 4. The radial blades 20 of the water breaker are usually raised at the ends as set out in Fig. 4 to throw the water off the blades in a fine spray.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the lower edge of the conduit 4 is turned up inwardly into the gutter or trough 2|, and a pipe 22 leads downwardly from the trough into the tank. This is regarded as an important feature of the invention, the idea being the collection and disposition of the drip falling from the lower edge of the conduit. The trough or gutter 2| collects the drip of the water spray and prevents it from being carried down to the blower or base of the machine and thence to the'heater where it would prove injurious.

Suitable electrical connections, not shown, are made with the motor in the conduit and the air fan motor mechanism, and in the operation external air is drawn through the conduit and subjected to the sprayed water from the water breaker. The air mixed with the water spray not only humidifies the air, but dust and other particles are wet by the water and are thus rendered heavier. The air is directed into and out .of the tank and into contact with the water therein and the dust falls from the moving air into the tank. The water in the tank is renewed as often as need be, and the purified and humidified air is driven by the fan through the discharge outlet in the casing into the heater for heating and distribution to the rooms of the dwelling or other building.

Having now described this invention, I claim: In an air washer, a closed casing constructed with an inlet opening at the top and an outlet opening at the bottom, an air inlet conduit constructed to fit in the inlet opening of the top of the casing, an open top water tank arranged below said conduit, the conduit extending into the tank whereby a space remains between the conduit and the tank walls, a motor and fan loted disk spreader in the conduit rotated by the motor, and an inverted conical pump member centrally attached to the spreader and extend- 10 ing downwardly into the tank.

CHARLES L. SPRINKLE. 

